Average cost for emergency plumbers.

A homeowner’s worst nightmare is the sound of a gushing toilet, the discoloration of a waterlogged ceiling or the sight of a flooded basement. Whether the result of a natural disaster or a burst pipe, an emergency plumbing situation can be frightening—because of both the danger of standing water and the cost of cleaning up a flood. The least of the homeowner’s worries should be finding an emergency plumber. Many plumbers are on call every day, day and night, and are available immediately in an emergency situation; they know that, with thousands of dollars in potential water damage at stake, a speedy response is essential. 

In general, plumbers charge an hourly fee that ranges from $85-$125 per hour. A typical job may cost as little as $50 per hour or as much as $185 an hour. Middle-of-the-night calls cost significantly more per hour than jobs done during regular business hours, sometimes double the hourly fee. If the job is particularly small, such as a quick drain cleanout, the plumber may charge a flat fee. For example, High End Home Services’ fee for cleaning a drain with a snake starts at $89.

Emergency plumbers, such as High End Home Services in Largo, Florida, New England Plumbing in Miami, Florida, or Superior Sewer & Drainage in Cicero, Illinois, offer a variety of emergency services, including drain cleaning, pressurized water jetting, rodding main sewer and sink lines, replacing sewage and sump pumps, and more.

Some emergency situations, such as burst pipes, will be covered by homeowner’s insurance, which may decrease the cost. However, homeowners should carefully weigh the out-of-pocket expenses of hiring an emergency plumber against the cost of their deductible and the impact it may have on their overall insurance costs in the future.